Last Updated on October 11, 2024
It’s that time of year again! Every store you walk into has been invaded by skeletons, bats, witches… and every kind of Disney princess costume that you could possibly imagine.
Many of us are trying to hunt down costumes, sign up for class parties, and make sure our kids don’t indulge in too much candy.
The reality is, Halloween in our culture today has become a whole ordeal. But should it be this way for Christian families?
What does the Bible say about trick or treating? Does God want us to avoid celebrating a holiday that has so many dark roots like Halloween?
Even growing up as a little girl in the church with Christian parents, we still got dressed up every year and went to our church’s Trunk or Treat and to a few neighbors’ houses for candy.
But now that I have young kids of my own, I figured it would be a good time to get to the root of what God actually thinks about trick or treating and Halloween.
In this post:
What the Bible says about Trick or Treating?
Avoiding the appearance of evil
Other great Halloween activities for families
The History of Halloween
Typically when we’re getting our kids dressed up for a fun time of trick or treating, we’re not focusing on evil spirits. But we can’t deny the pagan origins that have been associated with this particular holiday. You may have heard church people refer to Halloween as the “Devil’s holiday.” But is that really true? What is the actual origin of Halloween?
As far as we know, Halloween first began in Ireland with the ancient Celts hundreds of years ago, who began their new year on November 1. The night before on the evening of October 31, they held a festival that marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter.
They believed this seasonal transition was when the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred and ghosts could walk the earth. (Creepy, right?!)
They would light bonfires and wear costumes in an attempt to hide from the ghosts. And of course they had a big party and tried to tell each other’s fortunes while they were at it.
When Christianity spread into the area, the church started looking for ways to replace some of these pagan traditions. So in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III declared November 1 to be All Saints’ Day, a day to honor saints and martyrs.
The evening before, October 31, became known as All Hallows’ Eve, was eventually shortened to Halloween.
As Halloween continued to evolve it became what we know it as today, with traditions like trick-or-treating and pumpkin carving, all of which were influenced by different cultures.
READ THIS NEXT: 31 Fun Ideas for October (Almost all of them are free!)
Now today for so many Christians, we’re left a little befuddled by our relationship to Halloween. Its original history was a pagan holiday rooted in darkness and the occult, but the church made attempts to “turn it for good.”
So is trick or treating good now? Or is it bad? What does the Bible say about trick or treating and Halloween?
What the Bible says about Trick or Treating?
Now obviously there are no passages or Bible verses that specifically address trick or treating or Halloween. But all throughout the Bible, we can find verses that will guide us as Christians in our approach to the celebration of Halloween.
From the topics of light versus darkness to discernment and spiritual warfare, here are 9 verses to consider as we determine how and if we celebrate Halloween.
1. Ephesians 5:8-11 (NIV) – “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light… Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”
The apostle Paul reminds us that any signs of evil and darkness are things that we as believers are commanded to have nothing to do with. As children of the light, everything we do should be seen as an opportunity point others to God.
2. Ephesians 6:11-12 (ESV) “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”
There are no doubt that there are evil forces present in the world around us, and the devil will take any opportunity to deceive us, because he is the father of lies. That’s why we and our children have to stay on our guard against anything that can appear to be good but actually are shrouded in spiritual darkness.
3. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (NIV) “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
By claiming the name of Jesus and accepting His gift of eternal life, we turn away from the way the world does things. We have God on our side and the unfruitful works of darkness and evil have nothing on His power. Knowing this, we measure everything we experience (or celebrate) and make sure it reflects by God’s nature, character and the wisdom He gives us in His Word.
4. 1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV) “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.”
The evils of Halloween and in the world around us do exist. Our job? To be watchful and alert. If anything we take part in doesn’t line up with our faith, we have to recognize it and stand against it.
5. 1 Thessalonians 5:22 (NIV) “Reject every kind of evil.”
Could this be perceived as evil? Could our celebration of halloween be a stumbling block for someone in our lives or community? Is there any aspect of evil in our celebrations? These are all important questions for every Christian family to ask each year.
6. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
These verse is a perfect guideline for us to run every decision that we make through, especially as a family. Is it pure and excellent? Is it true and right?
7. Colossians 3:2 (NIV) “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
There’s definitely an obsession or even glorification that I’ve seen happen in our culture over Halloween in recent years, especially in the United States. If you do decide to participate in any Halloween festivities with your family, keep the most important things the most important things.
Church trumps a Halloween party. Family devotions more important than shopping for costumes. Don’t make exceptions to your usual family rhythms and stick to the biblical principles you rely on.
8. Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV) “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
As a family of believers, you are meant to be a light in dark places! God has equipped you for this! In modern culture, how can your family be in the world but not of it? Engaging while still being a light?
9. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV) “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
I’ve come to love applying the concept of the fruit of the spirit to every major decision in our family. (You can find another great post about the fruit of the spirit and parenting right here.) Will the way that we participate in trick or treating and Halloween be loving? Will it be joyful and peaceful? Will it be good and self-controlled?
Each of these verses can help guide your families decisions as you study what the Bible says about trick or treating and Halloween. I’d encourage you to go deeper on each of these passages and continue seeking wisdom and direction as you make decisions for your own family!
Avoiding the appearance of evil
For our household, I’ve decided the best thing that we can do when it comes to trick or treating and Halloween is to be sure that we are avoiding the appearance of evil and instead focusing on being a light everywhere we go.
So for us, right now (and all this may change), that means no creepy jack-o-lanterns or ghosts hanging in our trees. No skeleton costumes or creepy movies about the occult in our household.
Whether we’re shopping for costumes or deciding whether to attend a school part, Halloween is a time where we have to stay in tune with the Holy Spirit and look to Him for discernment on whether or not each event or celebration is wise for our family.
For trick or treating, our kids are welcome to dress as princesses, ninjas, dinosaurs, whatever they want to be, as long as it is not in direct opposition to the character, nature or word of God.
Not sure what God would have your family do this Halloween? I’d encourage you to pray James 1:5…
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
The spiritual world is very real and I want my kids to realize that even while they’re little, before they become a young adult.
Halloween night can be an opportunity for us to focus on community and fun and even celebrating the gifts of creativity and joy that God has given to us. But even while we do this, we have to stay mindful of this day’s underlying spiritual significance.
I don’t ever want this fun tradition of dressing up and trying to find the best candy to become a spiritual stumbling block for myself or our kids. So I will continue to ask God for wisdom and direction each year on what HE would have us do – and the best ways to avoid the appearance of evil while we do it.
8 other great Halloween activities for families
At the end of the day, whether or not your family celebrates Halloween and does trick or treating is totally up to you. Based on the scripture I truly believe this is a decision that involves discernment.
No matter what, every holiday is a great opportunity to remind ourselves and point our kids back to our Savior and the one who we live for – Jesus Christ. If you decide to opt to NOT do trick or treating this year, here are some fun family activities that you can do instead!
1. Pumpkin Decorating: Let your kids paint, bedazzle, or add stickers to pumpkins. This an easy way (less messy) way for them to enjoy pumpkins without carving.
2. Fall Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a list of fall-themed items like acorns, colorful leaves, pinecones, and squirrels. Then have your kids search the backyard or an area park for everything on the list. There are some great options on Pinterest!
3. Thankfulness Tree: Have kids cut out paper leaves and write something they’re thankful for on each leaf. Attach the leaves to a paper tree on the wall or hang them on an actual branch.
4. Apple Picking & Baking: Visit a local orchard to pick apples. Afterward, scour reciples online to make different kinds of apple snacks, recipes and dips!
5. Hayride or Corn Maze Adventure: Visit a local farm that offers hayrides or corn mazes. It’s a fun outdoor activity that celebrates the harvest season.
6. Fall Baking Party: Organize a day to bake seasonal treats like pumpkin bread, apple muffins, or cinnamon cookies. Let kids help with measuring, mixing, and decorating.
7. Story time and Hot Cocoa: Host a cozy story time with books about fall or harvest. Serve hot cocoa or cider and let your kids camp out in the living room with favorite blankets and pillows.
8. Outdoor Campfire Night: Have a campfire in your backyard or a local park. Tell stories, sing songs, and toast marshmallows to celebrate the cozy aspects of fall.
Each of these ideas can be adapted for different ages and focus celebrating the beauty and joy of the fall season without connecting to Halloween themes. Want a few other creative ideas?
You can find even more great fall activity ideas in this list: 31 Fun Things to Do in October.
In conclusion, I hope this post gives you a clearer idea of what the Bible says about trick or treating and celebrating Halloween. While this day is no longer based around a celtic festival or a pagan practice, we as Christians can’t deny the spiritual nature associated with this day.
Dear friends, whether or not you decide to celebrate Halloween or trick or treat this year with your kids, remember that wisdom is not focusing and targeting one specific day, but guiding and helping our kids to be a light for Jesus in everyday life, all throughout the year.